Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1887-04-25
CALIFORNIA.
Our Special, Mr.. W. =. Taylor. Makes u
Report On Grain Raising.

Report on Grain R!i-ing.
SANTA ANA, Cal. April iS. 1857.
To the Editor "f the Republic
? In my last gave sketch Of tou
through the fruit section and the undeyeI
oped prairie region OF this valley. Thi
will be devoted to the portion of the vale
more especially devoted to agricultural pur
suits. In no part of California of whicl
the writer has knowledge is there such
field for variety OF pursuits rs in this ller
are the finest fruit lands. the mos, i-rtil
agricultural lands mineral lands that ar
simply awaiting development. and within
nine miles of Santa Ana is a. fine natura
bay for commercial purposes As is 10 b,
found between San Francisco and SaI
Diego. The government surveyors ha,,
recently completed the survey of Newport
bay and report favOrably to its improve
ment. Should the government appropriat,
funds toward the improvement of this har.
Dor, ere long the commercial facilities ot
this valley would add greatly to its materia
wealth and prosperity.
/ To the southwest. west and northwest of
Santa Ana lie the damp lands, 80 Gale,
place. and also because they are abundant,
supplied with artesian wells. water from
which is constantly finding its way sea.
ward.
These lands produce abundantiy all kinds
Of agricultural products except wheat and
oats. both Of which grow too rank 10 Weld
grain ere they fall 10 the ground. Lands
in this locality range from S2j 10 SlIU Der
acre. The land varies in character and
} quality. and upon this. in connection with
| its location, depends its monetary value
A considerable portion of the land is a rich
| sandy loan. interSperSed with occasional
I strips of alkal. The most remarkable land
| in this lOcalty-aS il is among the richest
land in the worlds the peat land. This
! is reclaimed swamp land. which is covered
with decayed vegetation OF peat, with a
depth of from one 10 seventy feet or more
The productive capacity of this land is al
| most inconceivable. The principal cropS
| produced upon il are corn, barley. alfalfa
| hay and potatoes. Ninety bushels of first
class corn is 4 fair average crop per acre,
hut much greater yields are frequent. Last
year Matthew Rogers raised l?J bushels Ia
the acre on his land, and lS5 to 100 bushel
yields are no; uncommon. From 800 To 600
bushels of potatoes to the acre j. not an u.l-
| common crop. nn peat land. +. :. House
| last year raised onions al the rate of 500
bushels per acre. One hundred to two
| hundred dollars per acre are frequently
received from the annual products ef peat
| lands A cash rental of $50 per acre per
annum is frequently given for such land.
In many portions OF this locality the raisn
grape does well, and deciduous fruits, es-
pecially, do well and are among the best
4 -. GN..ls
trees. season before last, Mr. 5. W. Hadley
| raised $50 bushels OF apples-the orchard
was quite young one.
As a poultry and stock country. this sec
ton has few superi0rs. More than fifty
| thousand dollars worth Of eggs We're sold
! AT the village of Westminster last year
Hogs and cattle are raised in abundance and
within two and a half miles OF the above
village the Santa Ana Valley Pork Pack
| ing establishment is located. 1t i the only
pork packing concern run by steam in
, Southern California, aS il is also the oldest
| During the past season the proprietor, Mr.
| Eccl->. has killed 1900 hogs and packed
| over 600. 900 pounds of pork. Other smaller
| packing houses are scattered over this terri
| tory, and herds of fat cattle, sheep and
| hogs al. driven from these lands To- mar
| ket.
| ArteSiAn water. which flows from the
| mouth Of the well, is found on these lands
| at depth of from one 10 two hundred and
| fifty feet.
About six miles west of Santa Ana
| is found well which furnishes water for
| the farmhouse in which it is located. and
| also natural gas for heating and lighting
purposes. In a few instances salt wells
| have been found which pour forth an abund-
| ance of brine from which salt is made
Such wells are prevented from flowing when
discovered, by capping-that is. by screw
ing a cap over the mouth of the tube emit
ting the water.
Most wells, whether arteSian or surface.
are bored, and cost for boring fifty cents
per foot for the first fifty feet. Seventy-iiye
cents per foot for the next fifty feet, one
dollar per foot for the next fifty feet. etc,
and single pipe costs forty cents per foot
while double pipe costs sixty cents per foot.
good Buckeye pump for a well of fifty
feet costs from So to $50
From the abundance of willow that
grows spontaneously upon these lands. they
are frequently denominated The Willows"
This wood, when ready for use. brings
from 81 Ia 80 per cord in the market. The
climate of most of this section is apparently
as healthful a that of any portion of the
valley. No miaSma nor ague is known to
exist unless brought by the subject from
elsewhere.
The above, in connection with our last
communication. will assist your readers in
estimating. to some extent, the merit of
this valley. In the midst OF this fertile re-
gion Santa Ana lies. Since our arrival here
in October last, 1t has increased at least
titfN cont and than
hundred per cent. in character of its inhab-
itants. The late arrivals are almost uni
verSally among the best class Of people.
who bring with them good habits and
enough money 10 SecUre comfortable
homes.
That this is destined 10 be al important
city of no mran size and county seat. is
the prediction of most persons who have
studied its location and surroundings. The
size and number OF its stores. hotels and
other business enterprises. disclose To the
obserVant spectator the fact that there is a
surrounding country here whose enterprise
and energy are ahead of that of the town.
Especially has the above been true until
within the past six months. Recently Il
more enterprising class of persons have be
come citizens OF Santa Ana. and her devel-
opment is becoming more prominent.
This beyond much doubt will be the
junction of the Atchinsnr, Topeka and
Santa Fe roads being built from san Bar-
nardna and Los Angeles, through this val
ley to San Diego. \ few OF the reasons
leading 10 this conclusion are as follows
This is the largest and most important
point on the line or lines of the above roads
The citizens of this place have pledged
themselved TO donate thirteen acres of
choice lard to the above companies for rail
road purpoSss-depot grounds, side tracks.
shops, etc.-upOn condition that this shall
be the junction OF the two roads. Much of
the right of way has been given upon the
the same conditions, and much of that for
which the company have to pay is priced to
them at two different figures dependent up
on making this their junction. The company
have asked for the right Of way into the
town from the southeast over but one
street. and ont of il toward the northwest
over two streets, and the town trustees
have granted franchise in accordauce
with the rpnueStS of the compauy pnnli-